FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM)- Arkansas sophomore outfielder Andrew Benintendi has been named the National Player of the Year as announced by Collegiate Baseball Thursday morning.
Benintendi becomes the first Razorback in program history to earn National Player of the Year honors and is one of two players in the country to rank in the top 15 in home runs and batting average.
Benintendi leads the SEC in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, on base percentage and walks, and is the only player in the nation to rank in the top 25 nationally in every category.
Many project Benintendi as a top 10 pick in next month’s Major League Baseball Draft. If so, he would become the seventh first round pick in program history and the first since Ryne Stanek in 2013.
Here’s a list of Benintendi’s Accolades:
• Is the first National Player of the Year in program history.
• Is the first Arkansas athlete in baseball, football and men’s basketball to
garner National Player of the Year honors.
• Is the first SEC Player of the Year in program history.
• Is the first Razorback to win a major SEC award since Nick Schmidt won Pitcher of the Year in 2006.
• Is the first player in school history with at least 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season.
• Only player in the SEC to rank in the top 25 nationally in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage and on base percentage.
• On pace to become first player in SEC history to win the batting title, home run title and Player of the Year.
• On pace to become the third player in SEC history to finish the year as the league leader in home runs and batting average.
• Is one of only two players in the country with 15-plus home runs and 20-plus stolen bases.
• Currently leads the SEC in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, on base percentage and walks.
• Is eight RBI’s shy of becoming the second Triple Crown winner in SEC history.
• Leads all sophomores in the country in batting average, home runs and slugging percentage.
